About IMAGIN

IMAGIN is a professional development organization committed to providing opportunities for its members to network with professionals who are using, creating, or maintaining spatial resources within Michigan. IMAGIN serves as a crossroads for spatial information users/developers at all levels of government, business, and non-profit organizations by providing its members partnership opportunities to recognize, share, and create spatial data resources for both traditional and new application

IMAGIN is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 to
establish a statewide forum to advance the use of geographic
information systems and spatially referenced information. There
are currently over 150 members representing government,
private sector, university, & non-profit
organizations and membership is open to anyone interested in learning
more about GIS & proclaiming its applications.

The organizational goals of IMAGIN include: Raising
Michigan's awareness of GIS by demonstrating both traditional
and innovative uses Building reciprocal relationships with
organizations interested in applying GIS Engaging IMAGIN
members to participate in teams promoting outreach,
education, events, and information resources
Showcasing the dynamic changes occurring in the world of spatial
information to interested benefactors

Mission & Vision

IMAGIN's Mission:

IMAGIN enhances professional development of Michigan's
geospatial community by providing an annual conference,
education events, and networking opportunities.

IMAGIN's
Vision:

To Improve Michigan's Access to
Geospatial Technologies and to provide opportunities for
professional interaction by fostering collaboration and
networking.

Goal 2014-01: To provide
professional development networking opprotunities for
Michigan's geospatial community

Goal 2014-02: To improve communication to the
membership

Goal 2014-03: To host a student paper and
poster competition with awards ceremony

Goal 2014-04:
To improve collaboration with other statewide organizations

Goal 2014-05:
To recognize the contributions of
geospatial professionals

Goal 2014-06: To increase membership in
IMAGIN

Message from the President

Welcome
to summer, and welcome from your 2014-2015 IMAGIN Board of
Directors.As your
new President, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself
to you.

My name is Thomas Van Bruggen, and I am the
GIS Administrator for Muskegon County, Michigan.I am a 1997 graduate of Central Michigan University's
geography program and have spent my entire professional career
with Muskegon County.In the sixteen years I have spent at Muskegon, I have
built the GIS program from the ground up, starting with hand
drafting parcel maps through the enterprise system in place
today.I have been
involved with IMAGIN since attending my first conference in
1999, was appointed to the board in early 2008, and served as
Secretary from 2008 until 2014.

Your Board of Directors held a planning
session on June 6, 2014 to chart the course of IMAGIN for the
next year.Guided by
our existing mission and vision, the Board set out to focus our
efforts on identifying and prioritizing focus areas for IMAGIN
for the 2014-2015 year and have established the following goals
for the next year.

The Mission of IMAGINIMAGIN enhances
professional development of Michigan's Geospatial community by
providing an annual conference, educational events, and
networking opportunities.

The Vision of IMAGINTo improve
Michigan's Access to Geospatial Technologies and to provide
opportunities for professional interaction by fostering
collaboration and networking.

IMAGIN's 2014-2015 GoalsGoal 1: Provide
professional development networking opportunities for Michigan’s
geospatial community Goal 2: To improve communication to the
membership Goal 3: To host a student paper and poster
competition with awards ceremony Goal 4: To improve
collaboration with other statewide organizations Goal 5: To
recognize the contributions of geospatial professionals Goal
6: To increase membership in IMAGIN

Your Board is working on restructuring the
teams (aka: committees) that are tasked with various objectives
in meeting these goals, and we are going to be looking to YOU
for help.I have
charged the Board to engage the membership directly to involve
members, as we are a better and stronger organization when we
work together.There
is much to be done over the summer.

And in the spirit of engaging our
membership, let me start by asking you to give me feedback.What do you want or need IMAGIN to be?How can IMAGIN best serve your professional needs?I truly welcome any input you would like to share.You can send me your thoughts via email to
vanbruggenth@co.muskegon.mi.us or feel free to give me a call
and share directly, my number is 231-724-4458.

In this ever-changing media-driven world we
live in, we need to remember that our greatest asset is each
other.We learn the
best and grow the most through direct interaction with our
colleagues, so I encourage you to stay informed, get involved
and help shape IMAGIN into a great professional GIS
organization.We are
better together.

Have a wonderful summer!

~ Thomas Van Bruggen

IMAGIN Board of Directors

IMAGIN is governed by a fifteen (15) member board with each
member serving a two year term.

Elections are held
each year with final election ballots being due at the IMAGIN
Annual Conference. In any given year, either seven (7) or
eight (8) board seats are open for election. The Board of
Directors are elected by an open election by all members in good
standing, with ballots sent out a few weeks prior to the
conference and due by the moring of the second day of the
conference.

The IMAGIN Executive Team
is made up of the President, Vice President, Treasurer and
Secretary, all of which are elected by the Board of Directors
annually.

Teams (AKA Committees)

Executive Team

The Executive Team consists of the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary
and handles the day-to-day operations and business of IMAGIN and provides leadership to the board and membership at large.
In addition to the officers on the team, IMAGIN's
management team,
Riehl Solutions serves on this team as a
non-voting member.

Conference Team

The Conference Team is
charged with planning, developing and orchestrating
IMAGIN's Annual Conference. The team performs
site selection, develops conference content, selects
keynote speakers, plans activities and social
outings, and coordinates all activities and details
of the Annual Conference.

To learn more about the Conference Team or
to volunteer as a team member, contact the team at
conference@imagin.org.

Membership Team

The Membership Team is charged with defining
current membership and benefits, identifying
potential membership areas, establishing membership
pricing structures and all aspects relating to
membership in IMAGIN.

To learn more about the Membership Team or to volunteer as a team member, contact the
team at
membership@imagin.org.

Student Paper & Poster
Competition Team

The Student Paper & Poster Competition Team is
charged with the development and hosting of IMAGIN's
Annual Student Paper & Poster Competition. The
competition is IMAGIN's annual scholarship event
that recognizes the efforts of undergraduate and
graduate students in the geospatial technology
fields. The team plans and orchestrates all
aspects of the competition.

To learn more about the Student Paper & Poster
Competition Team or
to volunteer as a team member, contact the team at
sppc@imagin.org.

Bylaws of IMAGIN

IMAGIN adopted a new set of bylaws on June 9, 2015 during
the IMAGIN General Memebership MeetingTo download a PDF of
the official IMAGIN Bylaws,
CLICK
HERE

The name of the corporation shall be Improving Michigan’s Access
to Geographic Information Networks (IMAGIN).

ARTICLE II.

PURPOSE

A.
GENERAL PURPOSES. IMAGIN
is organized exclusively for educational, scientific and
charitable purposes, including making distributions to
organizations that qualify as tax exempt organizations under §
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or comparable
provisions of subsequent legislation (the "Code"). The purposes
of IMAGIN include:

1.
To provide technical, scientific, and educational information to
individual citizens, public organizations, other nonprofit
corporations, and other member organizations for improving the
use of geographic information systems and spatially referenced
information in the state of Michigan.

2.
To solicit and receive grants, contributions and other property;

3.
To enter into contracts, to engage needed personnel and services
and to hold or transfer such property as may be required to
carry out the purposes of IMAGIN; and

4.
To take all other lawful actions consistent with the other
purposes of IMAGIN.

B.
PERMITTED ACTIVITIES. Notwithstanding
any other provision of these Bylaws, IMAGIN shall not carry on
any other activities not permitted to be carried on by (a) a
corporation exempt from federal income tax under § 501(c)(3) of
the Code or (b) a corporation for which contributions are
deductible under § 170(c)(2) of the Code.

C.
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. No
substantial part of the activities of IMAGIN shall consist of
attempting to influence federal or state legislation. IMAGIN
shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign
(including publishing or distributing statements) on behalf of
any candidate or public office. Nothing in these Bylaws prevents
IMAGIN from providing independent and neutral analyses of
county, city, township or other local ordinances or regulations.

D.
PROPERTY AND ASSETS. The
property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to
educational, scientific and charitable purposes.

E.
NET EARNINGS.No
part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the
benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees,
officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation
shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation
for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in
furtherance of the purposes set forth in this article.

F.
DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY. Upon dissolution, IMAGIN shall, after
providing for the payment of all outstanding debts and
liabilities, distribute its remaining assets to a nonprofit
fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated
exclusively for educational, scientific or charitable purposes
and which has established its tax-exempt status under §
501(c)(3) of the Code.

G.
EXPENSES. No Director, Team Member or contracted management
company employee shall have the authority to incur debt or
personal expenses on non-budgeted expenses in excess of five
hundred dollars ($500.00) without express Board approval.

ARTICLE III.

MEETINGS

A.
ANNUAL MEETING. There
shall be an Annual Meeting of IMAGIN for the election of
Directors and the transaction of business. The time and place
for the Annual Meeting will be determined by the Board of
Directors. The order of business at the Annual Meeting, except
when otherwise determined by a vote of the Directors present,
shall be:

1.
Approval of Meeting Agenda

2.
Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting;

3.
President’s Report

4.
Annual Financial Report

5.
Election of New Directors;

6.
Open Membership Comments.

B.
REGULAR MEETINGS. A
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at least
four (4) times per year, unless otherwise determined by the
Board of Directors. The order of business at a Regular Meeting
shall be:

1.
Board Member roll call;

2.
Approval of meeting agenda;

3.
Approval of minutes of previous meeting;

4.
Treasurers Report

5.
Review of Old Business / Action Items

6.Team Reports;

7.
New Business;

8.
Adjournment.

One of the required Regular Meetings
may occur immediately after and at the same place as the Annual
Meeting with the newly elected Directors and Officers
transacting IMAGIN business.

C.
NOTICE OF MEETINGS. Electronic
mail (E-mail) notice stating the place and time of any Meeting
shall be provided to the Board of Directors not less than 7 days
and not more than 28 days before the Meeting.
Additional notifications
and electronic calendar reminders of the Meeting may also be
utilized.

ARTICLE IV.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A.
NUMBER and TERM OF OFFICE. The Board of Directors shall consist
of 15 members, each serving a 2-year term of office. 7 Board
Members will be elected in conjunction with the Annual
Conference of odd-numbered years, and the remaining 8 Board
Members will be elected in conjunction with the Annual
Conference of even-numbered years, according to the schedule
outlined in Article IV (B).

B.
MANNER OF SELECTION. All Individual Members of IMAGIN are
eligible to vote for, and run for, seats on the Board of
Directors. When voting to fill seats on the Board, each
Individual Member shall be allowed to cast one vote for each
Board Member seat up for election. As a result of these annual
Board elections, to the extent that willing candidates allow,
the Board composition will satisfy the following criteria,
listed in order of decreasing importance, along with any
additional criteria the board deems necessary to provide fair
representation to the entire IMAGIN membership. There will be:

1.
No more than two Board Members whose primary affiliation is with
the same Organization;

2.
No less than twelve Board Members whose primary place of work or
residence is in Michigan;

3.
No more than five Board Members whose primary affiliation is
with a for-profit corporation;

4.
No less than five Board Members whose primary affiliation is
with regional (i.e., multi-county), county, or sub-county level
governmental units, no less than three of which will be county
or sub-county units;

5.
No less than two Board Members from within each of Michigan’s
three State Plane Coordinate System zones (south, central, and
north);

6.
No more than nine Board Members whose primary place of work or
residence is within the same Michigan State Plane Coordinate
System zone (south, central, or north).

If all the listed criteria cannot be satisfied, then the more
important criteria will be satisfied in preference to the less
important criteria.

If two or more candidates receive the same number of votes, and
the selection of one candidate over another is not required to
create a proper Board composition as specified above, then the
other Members of the newly elected Board will settle the tie
vote by naming one of the candidates in question to the Board.

C.
VACANCY. A Board Member may resign from his/her Board position
by giving notice in writing to the President.If a Board Member ceases to be an IMAGIN member, then
that Board Member shall be removed from his/her Board position.In the case of a Board position vacancy, the remaining
Board Members may appoint an IMAGIN Member to fill the vacancy
so created for the remainder of the term.

D.
DISSOLUTION OF BOARD. The Board shall continue in existence as
long as IMAGIN consists of at least 15 members. If an election
is not held or the Board is abolished, because IMAGIN consists
of fewer than 15members, the functions and powers of the Board
shall be exercised by the remaining members of IMAGIN.

E.
GOOD STANDING. Any Director who misses three regularly scheduled
Board Meetings shall have his/her position on the Board of
Directors reviewed by the Executive Team.If the Executive Team determines additional action is
required, the stated action will be presented for a vote by the
Board. Notice, as set forth in Article III, shall be provided
specifically stating that such a review is to occur. The
Director in questionable standing shall have the opportunity, in
person or in writing, to explain the absences, but may not vote
on the question.

F.
POWERS AND DUTIES. The affairs of IMAGIN shall be managed by the
Board of Directors, as described in these Bylaws and in the
Rules and Procedures established by the Board.

1.
The Board shall establish and approve an annual budget.

2.
The Board may authorize any officer, or officer’s agent or agent
of IMAGIN, in addition to the officers authorized by these
Bylaws, to enter into any contract, or to execute and deliver
any instrument, in accordance with these Bylaws, in the name of
and in behalf of IMAGIN. Such authority may be general or
confined to specific instances.

3.
The Board shall designate those Officers or agents by resolution
who shall sign all checks or other evidence of indebtedness
issued in the name of IMAGIN.

4.
The Board shall establish Rules and Procedures necessary for the
proper operation of IMAGIN.

5.
The Board may establish membership fees as necessary to support
the functions of the organization. The Board shall review and
may adjust the amount of the membership fee on an annual basis.

6.
The Board may accept on behalf of IMAGIN any contribution or
gift for any purpose consistent with the Articles of
Incorporation and these Bylaws.

7.
The Board may name Ex Officio members to the Board as needed. Ex
Officio members do not have voting rights on the Board but do
receive all Board related materials and notices and can
participate fully in all Board discussions.

G.
QUORUM. A simple majority of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum.

H.
DECISIONS OF THE BOARD. The act of a majority of Directors
present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the
act of the Board of Directors, unless the act of a greater
number is required by law or these Bylaws.

I.
ABSOLUTION OF LIABILITY. IMAGIN assumes all liability to any
person other than IMAGIN, including its members, for all acts or
omissions of a volunteer director as defined under Public Act
162 of 1982, as amended, occurring on or after the date of
adoption hereof, or such earlier date as is permitted by law.
If, after the adoption of this Article by the members or
directors of IMAGIN, the Michigan Non-Profit Corporation Act is
hereafter amended to further eliminate or limit the liability of
a director, then a director of IMAGIN (in addition to the
circumstances in which a director is not personally liable as
set forth in the preceding paragraph) shall not be liable to
IMAGIN or its members, to the fullest extent permitted by the
Michigan Non-Profit Corporation Act, as so amended. Any repeal
or modification of this Article by the members, or directors of
IMAGIN shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a
director of IMAGIN existing at the time of such repeal or
modification.

ARTICLE V.

MEMBERSHIP

A.
Unless altered pursuant to Article VIII, a person or
organization joins IMAGIN by becoming a member of one of the
three following categories of IMAGIN membership.

1.
Individual Member.

Any person may become an Individual Member of IMAGIN by
providing the requested member information and paying the
membership fees established by the Board of Directors. Benefits
of Individual Membership may include a newsletter, discounts for
IMAGIN products and events, and other benefits as established by
the Board of Directors.

2.
Supporting Organization.

Any legal entity may become a Supporting Organization of IMAGIN
by providing the requested member information and paying the
membership fees established by the Board of Directors. Benefits
include one free Individual Membership, and may include
discounts on additional Individual Memberships for employees of
the Supporting Organization, and other benefits as established
by the Board of Directors.In addition, Supporting Organization members receive all
the benefits of an Individual Member.

3.
Student Member.

Any full time student at an accredited educational institution
may become a Student Member of IMAGIN by providing the requested
member information and paying the membership fees established by
the Board of Directors. Benefits of Student Membership may
include a newsletter, discounts for IMAGIN products and events,
and other benefits as established by the Board of Directors.

B.
STANDARDS FOR MEMBERSHIP. As
provided in Article IV Section F, the Board of Directors may
establish reasonable standards for membership in IMAGIN as part
of IMAGIN’s Rules and Procedures.

C.
RENEWAL. The right of
renewal shall rest in the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors may place reasonable conditions and limitations on the
renewal of any membership. The offer of renewal of membership,
including any limitation or condition, shall be established by
transmitting to the member notice that the dues for the ensuing
year are due and payable to IMAGIN. The payment of such dues
shall constitute an acceptance of the offer. Any conditions or
limitations placed upon any renewal may be removed at any time
as determined by the Board of Directors.

D.
DISSOLUTION AND RESIGNATION. Dissolution
of any member Supporting Organization shall terminate its
membership. Any member may resign by providing notice to IMAGIN.

ARTICLE VI.

OFFICERS

A.
OFFICERS. The officers of
IMAGIN shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. Any member of the Board may be selected to serve as
an officer, according to the rules and procedures adopted by the
Board of Directors.

B.
ELECTION and TERM OF OFFICE. Officers
shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the Annual
Meeting. Officers shall serve for a term of approximately one
(1) year, with the term beginning at the Annual Meeting where
the officers are elected and ending at the next election of
Officers occurring at the subsequent Annual Meeting.

C.
VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of
Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.

D.
POWERS AND DUTIES. Officers shall have such powers and duties as
may be specified in the resolutions or other directives of the
Board of Directors. In the absence of such directives, the
Officers shall perform the usual duties assigned to officers of
the same title serving non-profit corporations of the same or
similar general purposes and objectives necessary and proper to
conduct business.

ARTICLE VII.

EXECUTIVE TEAM

A.
MEMBERS. The Officers of the Board are the members of the
Executive Team.

B.
MEETINGS and RECORDS. Meetings of the Executive Team may be held
at the call of any member of that Team. Such meetings may be
conducted in person, by telephone, or other electronic means. A
record shall be kept of all meetings of the Executive Team.

C.
QUORUM and DECISIONS. A majority of the Executive Team shall
constitute a quorum for conducting business. Decisions of the
Executive Team require concurrence of at least 3 members.

D.
EXPENDITURES. The Executive Team shall not incur debt or
expenses in excess of the amount set forth in the annual program
budget categories adopted by the Board of Directors.

E.
LIMITATION OF AUTHORITY. The Executive Team is not authorized to
adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation, fill vacancies of
the Board of Directors, fix compensation of Directors for
serving on the Board or Team, amend the Articles of
Incorporation, or amend or repeal any resolution of the Board of
Directors.

ARTICLE VIII.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

A.
When an Officer, Director or Team Member participates in a
project for IMAGIN which will result in compensation for that
person, the following steps must be taken:

1.
Disclosure must be made to both the Board and the contracting
party;

2.
The person working on the project must abstain from all votes
pertaining to the project; and

3.
Accept such other conditions as are necessary.

ARTICLE IX.In
addition, IMAGIN requires all Board Members to review and sign
the IMAGIN Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Policy and
Disclosure Form.

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

A.
Each year the Board will review the IMAGIN Bylaws to consider
changes and improvements. Any change in the IMAGIN Bylaws must
be formally proposed by a 3/4 majority vote of the Board to the
Individual Members of IMAGIN. Proposed changes in the IMAGIN
Bylaws must be approved by a majority of Individual or Student
Members who cast a ballot in order to enact those changes.

B.
The original version of these Bylaws were adopted by IMAGIN on
June 7, 1995. A revision to the original
Bylaws was approved by
the IMAGIN Membership in September of 1999. In March of 2003 the
IMAGIN membership approved updated wording of Article IV
paragraph A. This version of the bylaws was approved by the
IMAGIN Membership on June 9, 2015.